Summary: Allies and Enemies!

Over the last decade, Frank Peretti has done more to cause Christians to think about the reality of demons than any other author. He wrote several best-selling novels beginning with This Present Darkness. He followed up with Piercing the Darkness. These wildly popular novels explained the trials and tribulations of a small Pastor as being the result of demonic forces who arrayed themselves in opposition to the Gospel. I recommend them as good fiction and even with the hope that they might open your mind to consider the reality of the Devil’s work to frustrate the perfect will of God in this world. A caution is in order! Don’t be foolish like some Christians who read them as fact and organized prayer meetings for the beleaguered Pastor and church in the story! It is a fictional book. But it can help you to think of the spirit realm that while invisible, surrounds us. That is the intent of our text passage.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (NIV)

It would be a wrong conclusion to think that all of the difficulties in life are directly brought on us by the Devil or demons. Some of our sickness, our poverty, our relationship problems are the result of our own wrong or poor choices. We know, too, that some of our suffering is causes by viruses that infect our cells, bacteria that attack our health, and even genetic coding that makes us prone to different problems.

Yet, we must take seriously the words that I read to you from the Bible about those “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms!” We must not become so seduced by the materialistic explanations of life’s challenges, so that we forget the real and powerful spiritual world that surrounds us and that opposes God’s purposes for us.

Today I want to talk with you about...Angels and Demons [ pray ]

Before we talk about the grim stuff, let’s discuss the bright side.

I find that people are much more open to the possibility of the supernatural and the spiritual than they were 20 years ago. Though many are skeptical of biblical Christianity, I am encouraged that people want to talk about God! There is no place where this renewed interest in things spiritual is more evident than in the prominence of angels. Angels have made a real comeback in the last few years! One of the most popular programs on TV features a trio of angels who step into real life situations and help people to figure out that God is on their side.

Monica, Tess, Andrew, and Gloria capture the attention of millions every Saturday evening for an hour.